Humpy draws; Yifan is world champion again

Grandmaster Koneru Humpy settled for a draw in the must-win eighth-round game as defending champion Yifan Hou became the women's world champion by triumphing 5.5-2.5 against the Indian.

Tirana: Grandmaster Koneru Humpy settled for a draw in the must-win eighth-round game as defending champion Yifan Hou became the women's world champion by triumphing 5.5-2.5 against the Indian here.

Under tremendous pressure and admittedly out of form, Humpy could not use her white pieces well in the eighth game which was another Queen's gambit declined.

The Indian had spoilt many good positions during the course of the match in the Euros 2,00,000 championship.

Yifan, with three victories and five draws, emerged as the worthy winner of the crown with her fantastic over the board resilience and won the title for the first time in a match.

It may be recalled that the 17-year-old Chinese had won the last championship in a knockout format and now this victory against a higher-rated Humpy confirms her status as the best woman player on the planet.

However, all these considerations are given the fact that highest ranked woman for a long time -- Judith Polgar of Hungary -- does not play in women's tournaments or championships and is a fierce competitor among men. Text: PTI